Map/Chart > The Persian Collection

A Survey of the Persian Gulf

A detailed manuscript chart of the Gulf: ‘Received from Mr Fulton Master RN’. This chart shows the routes of voyages undertaken in 1807, 1813 and 1817. There are two insets: one of Muscat and Muttrah (1785), the other of Busheer (1809)

Chart Information

Reference:

P721

Date

1785 & 1817

Hydrographer/Surveyor/Artist:

Mr Fulton, Master RN

Size Of Original:

w 94cm x h 64cm

Paper Type

German Hahnemuhle Etching Paper 310gms (original size)

Further Information

This chart is available in the following standard sizes and formats

Chart ID

Size

Dimensions (cm)

Print Only

Notes

P721

Original

w94 x h64

$330

Print only

This chart shows the entirety of the Persian Gulf from
Muscat on the Arabian coast and Mukoa on the Iranian, to the Euphrates and land
named as ‘Shat Al Arab’ (now Iraq and Iran). The manuscript plots the routes of
various voyages that were undertaken by HM Sloop Scorpion along the Persian
coast, in January to March 1807; and HMS Hesper, which ventured south the
Arabian coast in May - July 1813; and a latter addition to the
chart, in red, and clearly of a different hand, of the islands, from Captain
Maude’s voyage in March 1817.

Hydrographical soundings are recorded, as are anchorages,
water and vegetation, pearl shoals and fisheries. On the Arabian side: ‘Low
sandy coast with trees, some forts, 2 small villages’ are recorded between
Boothabeen (Abu Dhabi) and Dobay (Dubai).

Of significant note are the remarks relating to these
voyages, which, although sometimes difficult to read, are not only informative,
but also explanatory and raise questions in themselves. The remarks relating to
the Arabian coast go some way to explain the confused overlay of different
coastlines and the ‘over longitude’: with ‘no time keeper on board and the
weather so continually thick and foggy, no observations could be taken to
obtain it’. This is followed by an admittance that ‘the last departure was
taken from the Isle of Zara’ and that this is ‘placed to far to the west?’ The
remarks are continued with references to the ‘irregularity of the soundings and
shoals along the Arabian coast and the discovery of white sand, shells and
stones. Of particular note is the remark: ‘the comments to tides appears to be
very irregular both in their thought and direction. Frequently there is no … at
all and I think but seldom a strong one’. This, and the remark along the
western coast (now Mirfa to Ruwais ) which was ‘Very badly laid down’, leads
one to question whether the hydrographical work of another was under scrutiny
on this voyage. On a final point, the remark, ‘The whole of the Southern coast
of the Gulf is very little known and seldom frequented’, emphasises the lack of
interest and therefore understanding of the Arabian coast, at this time.

In the centre of the chart there are remarks relating to
the ‘prevailing north west wind which blow all year round’ and that ‘December
and January, are the only months to depend on having southerly winds’. To the
right of this are the: ‘Pearl Shoals of HMS Sloop Scorpion 1807’.

The remarks at the top of the chart relate to the Busheer
inset; providing directions to safely anchor using ‘the flagstaff of the
factory’, ‘part of a bluff hill North of Hallelah Peak’, ‘high land’ and ‘a few
straggling date palms’.

Of interest are the questions that this chart raises in
terms of those who contributed. There are clearly two different hands, and
possibly even three, and there are two question marks which relate to this
subject: one next to ‘Fulton’ in the map title; and the other next to ‘Maude’
in the mid-lower section of the chart.